Discovering The Planets and the Asteroid Belt

DiscoveringThe Planets and the Asteroid Belt Main Menu Citation

Where to Start your exploration? Terrestrial Planets Jovian Planets AsteroidBelt Title Page Citation Quiz

Citation Pictures Jovian planets picture: http://aschy.kicks-ass.net/solsys/raw/misc/Jovian.jpg Neptune: http://www.solarviews.com/raw/nep/neptunes.jpg Saturn http://www.harrisburgacademy.org/computer/decade%20project/20062007/2007%20students/6th%20grade/luke/space%20webpage/Saturn.jpg Uranus http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/image/uranus_voy2.jpg Jupiter http://wallpapers-sky.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Planet-Jupiter-wallpaper.jpg Mercury http://twittface.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/solar-mercury2.jpg Venus: http://sos.noaa.gov/images/Solar_System/venus.jpg Mars: http://www.parabolicarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/marsglobe2.jpg Asteroid belt http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/images/gaia_chapter_2/asteroids_compare4.jpg EVA http://ipadwallpaper.eu/wallpapers/2/eva-wall-e.jpg Continue on your journey Main Menu

Citation Pictures and more Sputnik: http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/images/screenshots/various/satellites_Sputnik_1_1__Kukanotas.jpg Rovers: http://www.scientificamerican.com Cassini: http://forum.celestialmatters.org/userpix/7_cassini_1.jpg NASA Research about all planets and exploration: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=SolarSys&MCode=JWST Messenger: http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/images/screenshots/various/spacecraft_Messenger_1__Cham.jpg Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Citation TEKS Knowledge and skill: (11) Earth and space. The student understands the organization of our solar system and the relationships among the various bodies that comprise it. The student is expected to: (A) describe the physical properties, locations, and movements of the Sun, planets, Galilean moons, meteors, asteroids, and comets; (B) understand that gravity is the force that governs the motion of our solar system; and (C) describe the history and future of space exploration, including the types of equipment and transportation needed for space travel. “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Mercury • Mercury the Closes Planet to the Sun • It is also the smallest Planet • As you can see Mercury ‘s surface is covered with craters. • Craters are formed when large comets and asteroids plummet onto the surface of mercury • The reason you can see so many craters on Mercury is because Mercury is what Astronomers call a “Dead World”. • “Dead world”- Means that the planet is no longer volcanically active Continue on your journey Main Menu

EarlyexplorationofMercury • It wasn’t until the Space age of 1950s that astronomers got the opportunity to see the surface of Mercury. This is because mercury is about 57 million miles at it’s closest distance to the Earth. • Mariner 10 was the first mission to go to Mercury. • Mariner 10 Flew past Mercury 3 times in 1974. • Mapped 57% of its surface Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Current and Future exploration of Mercury • Since mid-March, NASA has a spacecraft called Messenger in orbit around Mercury. • Messenger main purpose was to gather more information about the interior structure of Mercury • Future Exploration: • ESA (European Space Agency) is currently building a spacecraft called BepiColombo, to send to Mercury in collaboration with the Japanese Space Agency, JAXA Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Venus • Venus is the second planet form the sun . • It is the warmest of the Terrestrial planets due to it’s thick atmosphere. • There are very few impact craters found on Venus this is because • around every 500 million years the entire planet’s temperature rises so high that the rocky surface of Venus completely melts . Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Exploration of Venus • ESA currently has a spacecraft in orbit around Venus called Venus Express • The main goal of the mission is to gather long-term studies of the Venusian atmosphere. Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Earth • Earth is the 3rd planet form the sun. • It’s distance form the sun is ideal for supporting life • Moderately thick atmosphere • There are few crater on Earth because it is an active planet. • “Active planet”- Volcanically active Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Interesting Fact about space exploration Continue on your journey • Sputnik was the first satellite in space launched by the Soviet Union “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Mars • Mars is the 4th Planet from the Sun. • It is also Earths closest neighboring planet • When we look at Mars’ surface we can see what look like river valleys. • Mars is the Largest of the Terrestrial Planets • Mars is our primary focus of exploration Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Beginning Exploration of Mars • Mars has always fascinated the people of earth • The first successful mission to Mars was a satellite named mariner 4 Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Rovers on Mars Spirit • While spirit was driving around one of it’s wheels broke so it began to drag the wheel • From dragging it’s wheel along the surface Spirit discovered that underneath Mars’ dirt surface is a layer of ice and snow. Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Rovers on Mars Opportunity • Opportunity landed on Mars on January 25, 2004 • Opportunity’s task on Mars was to take samples of the dirt and examine them for water molecules. • It found that in the deeper craters there was evidence of a large body of water once was there Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Future Rovers to land on Mars • Curiosity is the next rover destined to landed on Mars’ surface • It is the largest rover sent to Mars today • Curiosity will have on board with it: • The first colour cameras with zoom lenses, that are capable of video imaging • It will be searching for fossilized organic compounds (such as plants and bacteria… anything that resembles life) “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Jupiter • Jupiter is the 5th Planet from the sun. • Jupiter is the Largest Planet in our solar system • It is a Jovian planet because it is composed entirely of gas • Jupiter also has the largest Moons orbiting it known as the Galilean Moons Continue on your journey Main Menu

Exploration of Jupiter • The voyager missions (voyger1 and Voyger2) were the first missions to Jupiter in the 1970s • The Voyager missions found active volcano on Jupiter’s moons • The Galilean mission was sent to discover more about these moons. • Most of the exploration dealing with Jupiter is focused on it’s Galilean Moons. Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Galilean Spacecraft Main Menu

Saturn • Saturn is the 6th planet from the Sun. • Saturn is BEST known for its magnificent ring system. • The rings are formed form different material such as, water particles and carbon dioxide, orbiting the planet. • Various small Moons orbiting give the Rings their structure Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Exploration of Saturn • The first mission sent Saturn was Pioneer 11 • It discovered that Saturn has many more rings then what we can seen from Earth • Cassini is the current mission heading to Saturn • Its primary gold is to discover more information on Saturn's Atmosphere Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Cassini Main Menu

Uranus • Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun • Uranus is a very abnormal planet because: • It’s north and south poles are the Warmest part of the planet • It spins on its side with one of the Poles facing the Sun at all times Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Exploration of Uranus • The first clear pictures of this planet were taken by Voyager 2 • After Voyager 2 studied Jupiter and Saturn it went on to the other Jovian Planets • There are currently no future missions headed to Uranus due to: • Uranus’ distance from Earth • The lack of funds Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Neptune • Neptune is the 8th and furthest planet in our solar system • It is an extremely cold planet due to its distance form the Sun 2.68 billion miles • Neptune has extremely high winds • Up to 1025.26 Miles/hour • These highs winds cause storms such as the Great Dark Spots to form on Neptune Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Exploration of Neptune • The first picture ever seen of Neptune was taken by Voyager 2 • Voyager 2 discovered the Great Dark Spot . • Currently there are no future missions planed for Neptune due to: • Distance from Earth • The lack of funds “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

What is an Asteroid? • Asteroids are small atmosphere free worlds that orbit the Sun • Due to Asteroids relatively small size they can not be called planets • Asteroids are irregular in shape , they do not have enough gravity to form a unified circle, like the planets. Continue on your journey Main Menu

Asteroid Belt • The majority of the Asteroids in our solar system are found in the Asteroid Belt • The Asteroid Belt is located between Mars and Jupiter Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Exploration of Asteroids • Asteroids are highly difficult to study from the Earth due to their small size • Thankfully every mission that has gone to Jupiter and beyond has had the opportunity to visit some of the Asteroids in the belt • Such as the Galilean Mission Continue on your journey “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Exploration of Asteroids cont. • Dawn is the first mission to an Asteroid and is on its way to the asteroid Vista • Vista is the 4th largest Asteroid in the Asteroid belt • After visiting Vista Dawn will contuse on to study Ceres • Ceres is the largest Asteroid “Wait I forgot something” Go Back Main Menu

Question 1 What is a Dead World? A place where people die A planet that is no longer volcanically active A planet where people once lived but have now become extended A lost Planet

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Question 2 What was the name of the first satellite to orbit Mars? Mariner 4 Sputnik Rover Odyssey

Question 3 What is the name of the future Rover mission to Mars? Spirit Rover 2 Sputnik Curiosity

Question 4 Which Terrestrial planet has the highest surface temperatures? Earth Mars Venus Mercury

Question 5 Which Jovian planet has the Galilean Moons orbiting it? Jupiter Saturn Neptune Uranus

Question 6 What is the name of the current mission to Saturn? Voyager 1 Pioneer Cassini Voyager 2

Question 7 Which planet rotates with the poles facing the Sun? Neptune Venus Uranus Mars

Discovering The Planets and the Asteroid Belt